OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Former University of Michigan All-American Amanda Chidester(2009-2012) was named to the 2013 National Women's Softball team today (Friday, June 14) by Team USA following a three-day selection camp held at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. This marks the second consecutive summer that Chidester earned a spot on the roster to represent Team USA.

During her years at Michigan, Chidester was named an NFCA All-American twice at two different positions (2009 second team at utility and 2011 first team at third base). She also earned Big Ten Player of the Year twice, during her junior and senior campaigns (2011-12). Chidester took home All-Big Ten citations in all four of her seasons in Ann Arbor, with three first-team selections (2009, 2011, 2012) and one third-team honor (2010). She spent the 2013 U-M softball campaign serving as a student assistant for head coach Carol Hutchinswhile student teaching to complete her degree.

Chidester played for Team USA in 2012 when the squad won the World Cup of Softball and was the silver medalist at the International Softball Federation World Championships. Chidester saw action in 21 Team USA games last year and batted .325 (13-for-40) with six home runs and 17 runs batted in.

Former Wolverines Jordan Taylor (2008-11) and Jennie Ritter (2003-06) are the only other U-M players who have earned a spot on the national team. Ritter played in the World Cup of Softball in 2007 and Taylor did the same in 2011-12.

Thirty-two players competed for a spot on the 2013 edition of Team USA at the selection camp (June 11-13). Now the roster of 18 women will compete in three separate events this summer in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Team USA will first look to defend its title at the World Cup of Softball VIIII from July 11-14 in Oklahoma City. The next competition will take place July 16-22 at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey, British Columbia. Finally, the team will play at an International Softball Federation Women's World Championship/Pan American Games qualifier from Aug. 5-18 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.